“The 2023 Sustainability Report presents the collective actions undertaken by the entire Auchan Romania team throughout the year. Equally, it presents the impact Auchan has on the Romanian economy, its financial results, as well as its impact on the environment and its support for the communities we are a part of. This will be the last report produced under GRI and SASB standards, and from 2024, we will migrate to the ESRS standards under the CSRD Directive,” said Corina Dospinoiu-Imre, Sustainability Director at Auchan Retail Romania.

The 2023 report has been audited by a third party for a number of key indicators, in accordance with the International Standard on Assurance Engagements (ISAE) 3000. This transparency initiative presents quantitative and qualitative data on Auchan Romania's non-financial, financial, and sustainability performance. It also allows all stakeholders - partners, employees, customers - to access information about key projects carried out during the reporting period and to monitor the company's performance in relation to its stated objectives.

Each chapter of the report is dedicated to a different strategic area that addresses the pillars on which the company's sustainability and ethical governance strategy is based, as well as the actions taken to be a responsible employer.

Auchan promotes healthy eating and encourages the development of local producers, so that in 2023, the company's share of Romanian suppliers reached 91%. At the same time, the range of sustainable products from Auchan's Filiere has doubled, and the ranges of organic and vegan products, for special diets and those dedicated to athletes' nutrition, have been expanded.

Auchan Romania pays special attention to combating food waste, with notable results achieved in the previous year. Through the "Zero Waste" project implemented in stores, the retailer has helped save over 5 million products that were close to their expiration date but still good for consumption. Also, together with the Federation of Food Banks in Romania, Auchan managed to donate 41 tons of products that supported vulnerable communities.

At the same time, actions against plastic pollution have been intensified in recent years, with Auchan developing a traceability solution for all types of plastic packaging associated with the retailer's products. Moreover, Auchan has made significant progress for its own-brand product packaging, managing to reduce the amount of plastic used in Auchan brand water bottles by 5.3 tons per year.

All Auchan-branded toys made of wood, paper, or cardboard are FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certified, which is a guarantee that the wood is sourced from responsibly managed forests. Also, Auchan-branded plush toys are made from 100% recycled polyester, and 100% of the own-brand Christmas baubles available in stores are made from recycled plastic.

In addition, in anticipation of the implementation of the Guarantee-Return System, Auchan Romania conducted its own campaign to collect recyclable packaging in the period April-November 2023, before the start of the GRS, during which over 23 million packages were collected with the support of 1.5 million customers. Thus, consumers had time to familiarize themselves with the GRS system, which was implemented nationwide at the end of November 2023.

In 2023, Auchan Romania's greenhouse gas emissions for Scopes 1, 2, and 3 (transport) decreased by 20.53% compared to the previous year, equivalent to 66,217 tonnes of CO2. These results are due to the implementation of a drastic energy sobriety plan in stores, which included time-based lighting schedules, reducing the linear meters of refrigerated display cases, installing motion sensors, installing timers for sockets (ON/OFF), reworking the HVAC system schedule, and modernizing cash registers. Also in terms of energy, a first in the Romanian retail industry was recorded, with the creation of the Auchan Renewable Energy company in February 2023, whose main object of activity is the production, transport, and distribution of electricity, supporting the achievement of Auchan Romania's climate objectives. Also in 2023, photovoltaic panels were installed on four Auchan stores, out of the 16 planned in total.

Auchan Romania remains one of the largest employers in Romania, with over 7,300 employees at the end of 2023. Women account for 68% of the company's human resources, and they are present in 56% of management positions. During the reporting period, Auchan employees benefited from over 123,000 hours of continuous training. Moreover, Auchan Romania also obtained the Top Employer 2023 certification, which is an official recognition of the company's efforts to create a quality work environment focused on the employee.

Throughout 2023, Auchan Romania has strengthened its commitment to local communities, supporting 87 social projects. Simultaneously, there were over 10,000 individual actions by Auchan employees in CSR and sustainability projects. Also in 2023, Auchan collaborated with 15 universities in 11 major university centers in Romania, thus actively contributing to the professional training of future leaders and specialists in the retail industry.